From: NGLTF@aol.com
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 14:38:48 -0500
Subject: Brutal Anti-gay Murder
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Press Release
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
2320 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
202-332-6483 voice, 202-332-0207 fax
http://www.ngltf.org
CONTACT: Robert Bray, NGLTF, (415)552-6448
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BRUTAL ANTI-GAY KILLING IN TEXAS SHOCKS COMMUNITY
AS BATTLE FOR TOUGHER HATE CRIME LAW CONTINUES
NGLTF URGES TEXAS OFFICIALS TO TAKE ACTION;
January 25, 1996....The brutal killing of Fred Mangione on January 4 in a
Houston, Texas suburb tragically underscored the efforts of local activists
to
pass a tougher state hate crime law. Texas activists have called on the
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community to assist them in
pressuring
state lawmakers to pass this legislation. Meanwhile, NGLTF is urging Texas
officials to take a strong stand on ending hate crime in their state.
Mangione was stabbed 35 times by two neo-Nazis, half brothers Daniel
Christopher Bean and Ronald Henry Gauthier, members of the German Peace
Corps, a
California-based neo-Nazi group. According to witnesses, Bean and Gauthier
said
they were going to "get a fag", prior to the murder.
Local activists have battled for a tougher hate crime law since the
current
law was passed in 1993. Legislators intentionally worded it so vaguely that
it
is practically unusable by prosecutors. Attempts to pass a hate crime law
with
"teeth", modeled on a Wisconsin law which was upheld by the U.S. Supreme
Court
in 1993, have failed. The local Christian Coalition in Austin has campaigned
strongly against the bill, even purporting that "child molesters" would be
protected under the measure. Ironically, on the same day this bill was last
defeated in the Texas House, May 20, 1995, Joe Isassi was killed in an
anti-gay
attack in Corpus Christi.
"We need people's help to put pressure on Texas lawmakers and let them
know
that their refusal to act to end hate crimes in Texas is a national
embarrassment and a strike against American justice," stated Diane-Garcia,
Executive Director of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas.
NGLTF expressed its concerns regarding this case to the Department of
Justice (DOJ).
NGLTF has encouraged DOJ to continue its efforts to improve the
documentation and reporting of hate crime by local law enforcement
departments
under the federal Hate Crimes Statistics Act to ensure more accurate tracking
by
DOJ of these crimes.
The Task Force is also writing to Texas Governor George W. Bush, the
President Pro Tem of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House urging them to
adopt a strong and effective hate crime bill in honor of all those who have
died
at the hands of hate in Texas, including Fred Mangione. NGLTF is stressing
the importance, both symbolic and actual, of meaningful hate crime laws in
stemming hate violence. Sixteen states, excluding Texas, have hate crime
measures that include crimes based on sexual orientation. Twenty states have
hate crime laws that do not include sexual orientation, and 14 states have no
hate crime law.
Melinda Paras, NGLTF Executive Director, said, "Strong hate crime laws
are
essential in combating hate violence against all people. It is time to speak
loudly and clearly against those who believe attacking - and even killing -
gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender people is acceptable and should go
unchecked."
Paras added, "We challenge the Governor and the Texas state legislature to
stand
up against the forces that engage in and protect hate crime."
NGLTF is helping the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas (LGRLT) bring
attention
to the
alarming level of anti-gay violence in Texas by promoting its anti-gay hate
crime pledge campaign. The Pledge for a Better Texas Project, recently
launched
by LGRLT, is designed to educate and garner support for a tougher hate crime
law
in Texas. All Texans, former Texans, those who do business in Texas, those
with
families or friends in the state, and Texans-at-heart should contact LGRLT at
(512) 474-5475 or lgrltexas@aol.com or P.O. Box 2579; Austin, Texas 78768.
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